Preface
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 22 September 2009
Summary
Books on The Stagecraft of Plautus and Roman Theatre Production seem beyond our capabilities.
Goldberg (1998) 2This book is about comedy, and, like most books about comedy, it does not contain nearly enough jokes; for that I apologise. I hope the book contains enough of interest to convey something of the excitement Plautus and Terence have brought me over the past several years. Stagecraft and performance are a challenge to document, and the separation of twenty-two centuries has done little to make it easier. I have attempted to present a consistent, credible, and comprehensive picture of how the mechanics of the Plautine stage functioned, and in most respects the picture remains true for Terence. I have tried to remain grounded in the text of the plays, but a lack of evidence has meant that some speculation has been necessary, and I know that not all readers will accept all the conclusions. It is possible to isolate various claims – to agree with what I say about masks, but not about improvisation, for example – but taken together, it is hoped that the resulting picture remains true to what we understand of the text of Plautus, even given the necessary limits that such a claim must entail.
Roman comedies were intended for production. My purpose is to examine a number of aspects of the performance and stagecraft of Roman comedy, with an emphasis on Plautus.
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- Information
- The Stagecraft and Performance of Roman Comedy , pp. ix - xivPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2006